You cannot mine ETH on Ethereum mainnet in 2026. Ethereum ended proof-of-work mining when The Merge took place on September 15, 2022. Validators now secure the network through proof-of-stake. If your goal is to earn protocol rewards, the current route is staking—not buying or running an Ethereum GPU mining rig.
Staking is not simply mining with different equipment: it requires ETH, and its costs, risks and operating requirements depend on how you participate. A node can also help you verify Ethereum without earning rewards.
Can you mine Ethereum today?
No—not on Ethereum mainnet. Its proof-of-work mining mechanism is switched off, so a GPU, ASIC, mining pool or old Ethereum mining command cannot produce new ETH on that chain. Ethereum’s mining documentation explains that mining is no longer used on Mainnet. Ethermine, a former Ethereum mining pool, likewise says ETH can no longer be mined with GPUs or ASICs on Ethereum; see its announcement.
Some guides that describe Ethash hashrates, mining pools, ethminer or commands such as geth --mine are historical. Geth’s mining documentation treats proof-of-work mining as no longer used to secure Ethereum Mainnet. A separate proof-of-work fork is not Ethereum mainnet, and assets on a fork should not be assumed interchangeable with ETH.
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Be wary of offers to send ETH to “upgrade” it or convert “old ETH” into “new ETH.” Ethereum’s transition did not create separate old and new ETH balances. Its Merge guidance warns about scams using those claims.
What Ethereum mining used to be
Historical context: Before The Merge, Ethereum used proof of work. Miners ran hardware that performed computational work using the Ethash algorithm, competing to add blocks. The former system included GPU miners, mining pools and, eventually, specialized hardware. Mining rewards included block rewards and transaction-related incentives. Those descriptions explain how the old network worked; they are not instructions for earning ETH on mainnet now.
What changed at The Merge?
The Merge joined Ethereum Mainnet’s execution layer with the Beacon Chain’s proof-of-stake consensus layer on September 15, 2022. Validators, rather than miners, have produced blocks since then. Ethereum.org reports that the transition reduced Ethereum’s energy consumption by approximately 99.95%; that figure is Ethereum.org’s estimate, not a claim of an independently measured result here. See the official Merge overview.
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Ethereum.org deprecated the terms “Eth1” and “Eth2.” The current terms are execution layer and consensus layer; there was no separate “new ETH” that holders needed to claim. The two layers work together: execution clients handle transactions and execution, while consensus clients participate in proof-of-stake.
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Staking is the way to participate directly in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake consensus and potentially earn protocol rewards. A validator deposits ETH as economic collateral and performs duties such as proposing blocks and attesting to blocks. Correct participation can earn rewards; missed duties can reduce expected rewards, and certain serious faults or dishonest behavior can bring penalties or slashing. Staking is not guaranteed interest: it involves capital, operational and, depending on the method, custody, smart-contract, liquidity and counterparty risks. Read Ethereum’s staking overview for protocol context.
A standard solo validator needs 32 ETH to activate. Ethereum.org’s current solo-staking documentation says modern validator accounts can hold up to 2,048 ETH; that is an account capacity, not the minimum deposit to activate a validator. Pooled services can accept less than 32 ETH. You do not need 32 ETH merely to run a node. See solo staking and pooled staking.
Choose a way to participate
| Option | ETH requirement | Work and control | Key trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo or home staking | 32 ETH to activate a validator | You operate the validator and manage its infrastructure and keys. | Control and direct participation, with significant uptime, security and maintenance responsibility. |
| Staking as a service | 32 ETH | A provider operates the validator; key arrangements depend on the service. | Less infrastructure work, in exchange for fees and dependence on a third party. |
| Pooled or liquid staking | Can be less than 32 ETH | A protocol or service pools stakes; liquid staking may issue a token representing a claim. | More accessible, but adds protocol, contract, provider, liquidity and governance risks. |
| Exchange staking | Varies by exchange | The exchange generally handles custody and operation. | Simple interface, but custody, counterparty, withdrawal, policy and jurisdiction risks depend on the exchange. |
| Run a node without validating | No validator deposit | You operate a node to verify the chain; it is not a validator. | Useful for learning and independent verification, but it does not earn staking rewards by itself. |
Solo or home staking
Solo staking is for someone with 32 ETH who is prepared to maintain the software, keys and hardware. The broad path is:
- Securely hold at least 32 ETH and decide whether the operational demands are suitable for you.
- Prepare reliable hardware, storage, power and internet connectivity. Check current requirements in the documentation for the clients you select rather than relying on old hardware recommendations.
- Choose and install an execution client and a consensus client, then synchronize both before relying on the validator.
- Use the current official tooling to generate validator keys and withdrawal credentials. Check the credentials carefully before depositing; they are security-critical.
- Follow the official Staking Launchpad and Ethereum home-staking guide for the current deposit process.
- After activation, monitor synchronization, validator duties, logs, disk use, memory and network connectivity. Keep clients maintained using their documentation and security advisories.
Do not run the same validator signing keys on two machines at once: duplicate instances can make conflicting attestations and create slashing risk. Protect signing keys and seed material; do not put them in screenshots, cloud drives or support tickets. Keep withdrawal arrangements separate and carefully protected. Solo staking rewards vary with validator participation and network conditions. Block proposals can also bring execution-layer proceeds, including priority fees and MEV-related proceeds, but neither those proceeds nor a fixed return is guaranteed. Current net results depend on operating costs and other circumstances; no current APR is stated here.
Staking as a service
This option suits a 32-ETH holder who does not want to run client software and infrastructure. You provide the stake while a third party operates the validator, generally for a fee. Depending on the service model, the provider may need signing-key access while you retain control of withdrawal arrangements. Before choosing one, understand who controls which keys, how fees are charged, how outages and penalties are handled, and what happens if the provider stops operating. Ethereum.org describes the category in its staking-as-a-service guide; it does not establish one universal fee or key arrangement.
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Pooled and liquid staking
Pooled staking combines participants’ ETH through an external protocol or service so users can stake less than the 32 ETH needed to activate a solo validator. Liquid staking is a form that can issue a token representing a claim on staked ETH and rewards. A token may make it easier to transfer or use that claim, but it is not automatically equivalent to ETH in price, liquidity or risk. Ethereum.org notes that pools differ in their tools, contracts, teams, benefits and risks; consult its pooled-staking guidance.
- Contract and protocol risk: Bugs or failures can affect pooled assets or token claims.
- Operator and concentration risk: Outcomes depend on the operators, governance and degree of concentration in the particular system.
- Price and liquidity risk: A liquid staking token can trade below or above ETH, and redemption or withdrawal may take time.
- Penalties and custody: Validator penalties still matter; exchange or custodial arrangements add dependence on the custodian.
Exchange staking is also a third-party route, but it should not be treated as synonymous with a decentralized pool: the exchange may custody assets and set its own withdrawal and service policies. Verify current terms, fees, availability and jurisdiction before committing funds. The available product details can change, so check providers’ official documentation directly rather than relying on an old comparison.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens to staking rewards and withdrawals?
Rewards are variable, not a fixed salary or guaranteed APR. Consensus-layer rewards depend on validator participation and network conditions; occasional block proposals can add execution-layer rewards. Downtime can reduce expected earnings, while penalties and slashing are separate risks. To assess whether staking suits your finances, account for any service fees, hardware and electricity costs, opportunity cost, tax treatment and the possibility of loss. Tax rules depend on your jurisdiction, and no tax treatment or current return is asserted here.
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Staked ETH is not necessarily locked forever: Ethereum has withdrawal mechanics that move ETH from the consensus layer to the execution layer. Timing and handling depend on the validator or service, and pooled-token redemption can follow a separate process. Check Ethereum’s withdrawal guidance and the current terms of any pool or provider before staking.
What can you do with an old mining rig?
- Sell or repurpose it: GPUs may be useful for rendering, video processing, local AI workloads or scientific computing, depending on the hardware and software.
- Consider other proof-of-work coins only after calculating costs: Potential returns depend on the specific coin’s price and difficulty, electricity costs, pool fees, hardware condition and tax treatment. Mining another coin is not mining ETH on Ethereum mainnet, and it is not reliably profitable just because the equipment once mined Ethereum.
- Run an Ethereum node: Ordinary suitable hardware can support independent verification and learning. Running a node alone does not make it a validator or earn protocol rewards.
Do not buy a GPU or ASIC on the assumption it will mine ETH on Ethereum mainnet. Hardware recommendations, client requirements, electricity break-even calculations and coin profitability all need current, specific information.
Quick Recap
Beginner decision guide
- Have less than 32 ETH and want to stake: Compare pooled options, including custody, contracts, fees, liquidity and withdrawal rules; do not treat a token as risk-free ETH.
- Have 32 ETH and can manage the technical work: Review the solo-staking requirements and current Launchpad instructions before deciding whether to run a validator yourself.
- Have 32 ETH but do not want to maintain infrastructure: Compare staking-as-a-service providers’ key controls, fees, operational record and terms.
- Want to learn without staking: Run a node or learn using a test network; neither requires a validator deposit, and a non-validating node earns no protocol rewards.
- Own a mining rig: Assess resale or alternative workloads before considering mining another coin. Do not count on it as ETH-mining equipment.
Security checklist before staking
- Start from official Ethereum resources such as the Staking Launchpad; independently verify domains and be skeptical of unsolicited staking offers.
- Never send ETH to someone promising to “upgrade” or “convert” it to new ETH.
- Check withdrawal credentials before the deposit transaction is finalized and protect signing keys and seed material.
- Never operate duplicate validator instances using the same keys.
- If a client is offline or unsynchronized, investigate before relying on validator duties; missed duties can affect rewards and penalties may apply.
- Plan for power or internet interruptions, monitor disk capacity, and follow the chosen clients’ maintenance guidance. Do not blindly update all clients at once.
- If a pool redemption seems unclear, consult that provider’s current documentation; its process may differ from native validator withdrawals.
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